China and African countries launched a new health cooperation platform in Beijing on Thursday, marking a shift from aid-driven engagement to long-term partnerships focused on knowledge exchanges, technical collaboration, and sustainable development.
Diplomats and health experts from across Africa and China took part in the first China-Africa Health Cooperation Think Tank Dialogue in the Chinese capital, which saw the inauguration of the China-Africa Health Development Knowledge Exchange Center.
The initiative is expected to improve research, drive collaborative innovation, and strengthen partnerships among China, Africa and global health institutions.
"The health cooperation between China and Africa has gone through a remarkable 60-year journey. Now there are still obvious shortcomings in the global health governance system. At the same time, the resources of international health cooperation are facing pressure. The promotion of China-Africa cooperation has made positive contributions to improving the health and well-being of the African people," said Li Juan, deputy director of the National Health Commission's International Cooperation Department of China.
Many attendees highlighted the initiative as a shift from material aid to capacity-building between China-African health collaboration.
"I honestly envision a future where China can help Africa leapfrog by not going through the long journey of reforms that other countries have gone through, but just starting from where other people are today, in terms of the health systems, infrastructure, the equipment that we are using and the human capital training that we need," said Hodan Osman Abdi, ambassador of Somalia to China.
"This is long overdue. I wish we had it 10 years ago. I think there is room for knowledge exchange, for training, for collaborative research, and above all, cementing people-to-people relationship," said Khamis Mussa Omar, ambassador of Tanzania to China.
Since the first Chinese medical team arrived in Algeria in 1963, China has dispatched around 30,000 medical personnel to 76 countries and regions across five continents, with a primary focus on Africa, providing 290 million diagnoses and treatments for local people, according to the National Health Commission of China.
Looking ahead, attendees said they hope to see more new joint medical centers focusing on training and technology transfer to boost local healthcare capacity.
"It's basically creating a platform where Africa and China can sustainably stand and exchange on health issues -- taking stock of what are the key issues among African countries and then consolidate this into a workable document or whatever," said David Ojut Okello, executive director of the African Center for Global Health and Social Transformation.
China, Africa launch health cooperation platform for sustainable development
